Florida Axes State Renewable Fuel Standard

Joanna Schroeder

Earlier this week, the Florida Legislature passed HB4001, a bill that repeals the state Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Senator Greg Evers was a huge supporter of the bill, that allows Florida consumers the ability to purchase gasoline that is ethanol free. In a statement, Evers said, “The bill eliminates the unnecessary power of the government to force Florida citizens to …

biofuels, Ethanol, Growth Energy, RFA

Mosaic Releases Large Solar Project for Investment

Joanna Schroeder

Mosaic, an online marketplace that connects investors to high-quality solar projects, has released its largest solar project to date with $700k in investment opportunities. This is the company’s second project in its Golden State Series, a $100 million series of solar investments available to residents of California. Mosaic’s first offering, a $153,000 project for a charity in San Diego, sold …

Alternative energy, Electricity, Energy, Solar

Facebook Blows Into Iowa with the Wind

Joanna Schroeder

According to a story from Radio Iowa, Jay Parikh, vice president of infrastructure engineering for Facebook, was in Altoona, Iowa earlier this week to officially announce they will be constructing a 476,000 square-foot data center. One of the reasons cited for the social media giant to choose Iowa: it’s commitment to renewable energy including wind energy. Parikh said the company …

Alternative energy, Electricity, Energy, Wind

Ski Area Powered by Renewables

Joanna Schroeder

It’s spring and most people are tired of the snow, but not Berkshire East, who has completed a solar installation that enables the Massachusetts family ski run area to be powered entirely from onsite renewable energy. The year-round resort recently developed a 500kW solar tracker farm that will produce 700,000kWh annually. The solar farm will supplement a 900kW wind turbine …

Alternative energy, Electricity, Energy, Solar, Wind

Heliae Reveals Volaris – Algae Production Platform

Joanna Schroeder

Heliae has revealed its latest microalgae production platform, Volaris, the result of five years of research and development. The technology was designed to produce high purity microalgae at competitive prices. According to the company, Volaris will enable large-scale production for diverse markets and provide a natural, sustainable and consistent supply of alage-based products to meet worldwide demand. “Good science takes …

advanced biofuels, algae

Biodiesel Key in Wash. State DOT Sustainable Energy

John Davis

In honor of Earth Week, the Washington State Department of Transportation has outlined some key points in how to have a clean, sustainable supply of energy. And a couple of items from the top of the list of things the department is doing itself include biodiesel: Some recent WSDOT initiatives to reduce carbon emissions and conserve natural resources include: * …

Biodiesel, Government

Who Knew? Morocco & Environment Go Together

Joanna Schroeder

I have this urge to travel to Morocco if nothing for the sheer desire to re-enact Casablanca as Ilsa Lund, played by Ingrid Bergman. (Who wants to come along and play my husband Victor Laszlo played by Paul Henreid and Rick Blaine, played by Humphrey Bogart? Apply to @jmschroeder) While many people will be mumbling to themselves this is the stupidest …

Alternative energy, Climate Change, Environment, Opinion, Solar

USDA Renews Dairy Energy Pact

Cindy Zimmerman

Agriculture Secretary Vilsack today renewed a historic agreement with U.S. dairy producers to accelerate the adoption of innovative waste-to-energy projects and energy efficiency improvements on U.S. dairy farms, both of which help producers diversify revenues and reduce utility expenses on their operations. The pact extends a Memorandum of Understanding signed in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 2009. USDA support for agricultural and …

Audio, dairy, livestock, USDA, Waste-to-Energy

Food Label Needs

Talia Goes

Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “What is the #1 thing you look for on a food label?” Our poll results: Nineteen percent said other, sixteen percent said Low Sodium, fourteen percent Don’t Read Labels, thirteen percent said Reduced Fat, ten percent said Saturated Fat Content, and we had a tie at nine percent saying Non-GMO and Organic. Three percent …

ZimmPoll

Princess Cruises Honored for Biodiesel Efforts

John Davis

With the tag line of “escape completely,” Princess Cruises looks like it’s trying to escape to a more environmentally friendly fuel: biodiesel. This company news release says it has been honored by the Port of Seattle with a Gold Level Green Gateway Award for the line’s environmental stewardship, including turnings ships’ used cooking oil into biodiesel. “We’re gratified that the …

Biodiesel